Merrick Chamber Names its Man and Woman of the Year

The Merrick Chamber of Commerce has selected its 2016 Man of the Year and 2016 Woman of the Year, as well as it 2016 Merrick Professional of the Year and the 2016 Merrick Merchant of the Year, all of who will be celebrated at the annual Merrick Chamber of Commerce installation dinner at the Chateau Briand in Westbury on Thursday, January 28.

Merrick’s 2016 Man of the Year is Chuck J. Fuschillo Jr., a longtime resident of Merrick who served his community as a New York State Senator in the New York State Legislature. His accomplishments are many and varied, but perhaps none as fulfilling as the passage of Leandra’s Law, which makes it a crime to drive under the influence of alcohol with a child in the car.

He was also a strong advocate for stricter drunk driving laws, creating laws which now require convicted drivers to utilize mechanisms within the car to prevent the car from starting, should someone enter the car under the influence of alcohol.

An excerpt from a letter nominating him for the honor reads: “He was a supporter of everything we asked of him while he was in office, assisting with grants for community organizations, redoing little league fields for the kids, fighting for our fair share of state aid in Albany, and revitalizing our business districts. We all know it was done out of his commitment for Merrick. It is time to say ‘Thank You’ for all he has done for us as a community.”

Donna with husband Charles

Merrick’s 2016 Woman of the Year is Donna Rosenblum, a lifelong librarian who has served on the library’s Board of Trustees and is currently president of that board.

In nominating her, it was learned that she has “volunteered her time to educating the public about the Holocaust through her work with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. She created a program called Adopt a Survivor in Merrick and in other Nassau communities, and promotes Holocaust education programs in schools and houses of worship.

“Donna [also] makes presentations to community groups about a pet project of her called Reason2Smile, which supports a school in Kenya for at-risk children. She not only raises funds for this school but actually travels there to ensure the funds are used properly.”

She has also been named School Librarian of the Year by Nassau County BOCES.
Congratulations the 2016 Merrick Man and Woman of the Year winners!